Arsenal Links

Van Persie signs a new contract… + Usmanov told to take a running jump

it was announced on the official site today that van Persie has signed his new ‘long term’ contract, I think it makes him one of our longest serving players too. He clearly loves the club and has stated his commitment many, many times but until he has inked the deal there was always a little element of doubt around. He said:

“I’m so happy to have signed a new long term contract. I’ve been at the Club for five years now and there really is a great feeling here at Arsenal. We have a top class manager, a squad full of superb young players, a world class stadium and brilliant supporters. Arsenal Football Club has a very bright future and I want to be part of it.

“My heart is with Arsenal and I just can’t picture myself in a different shirt. I just can’t see it now because I love this Club so much. If you look at the last five years, look at the steps I have made every season, if you look at the support the Boss and the whole Club gave me, the fans gave me, my team mates gave me – this is the right decision.”

He joins the ever growing list of new contract signings and I expect a few more soon as well before the start of the new season. The club is clearly taking the stance that it has to protect what it has got before it looks at improving the squad, Vermaelen aside of course.

Wenger is a massive fan of van Persie and was happy to tie down one of his most experienced and talented players for a few more years yet:

“It’s fantastic news that Robin van Persie has committed his long term future to Arsenal Football Club, we’re all delighted. Robin is a hugely gifted player and has the talent and goalscoring ability to win matches at the very top level. We have already seen many times what Robin is capable of on a football pitch, but at only 25, there is still much more to come from him. Robin has the potential to become a true Arsenal great.”

He does have massive potential but there is still the conundrum as to where he plays best. He is not the type of player you want in a lone front role, he can play out wide as well as he does for Holland. I don’t have the foggiest idea where he plays best to be honest with you.

Onto Usmanov and I dont want to spend long talking about this disgusting, fat, ugly, son of a cunt.

The board have turned down the offer of financial help from him, despite the Man United supporter’s fears that we do not have sufficient funds to support Arsene. He said:

“Based on financial information that only they have, the board have informed us that they are confident they have adequate financial resources to support the manager to strengthen the squad, to weather the property downturn, to renegotiate the Highbury Square loan on good terms and to deal with the continuing difficult economic conditions.

“We do not share their view but are prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt for the moment.”

He paused for a cake and added:

“However, we will keep the situation under close review and remain committed on behalf of interested parties in the club to ensure that there are sufficient financial resources for the club to succeed at the highest level and win major honours such as the Premier League or UEFA Champions League, while operating within a self-sustaining financial model.”

Gazidis gave his reasons for turning down the offer from Usmanov:

“We can comfortably afford to meet the annual costs of this debt while at the same time generating surplus funds to invest in the club.

“With regard to players, the board decided not to issue permanent capital in the hopes of signing one or two players in an inflated transfer market.

“Instead, the focus continues to be on securing the services of talented young players we have on long-term contracts and making very selective acquisitions, only where a new signing will add real value to our already strong squad.”

Gazidis admitted as recently as yesterday that an owner such as Usmanov does not fit in with the history and traditions of the club:

The club has always been proud of its independence, not for its own sake but in order to preserve stability. Arsenal is not dependent on any particular owner so there can be changes at the ownership level without that having a dramatic effect on the fundamentals of the club.

Usmanov is not welcome at Arsenal as far as I am concerned. He has a shady past, responded to the truth of his history by getting heavies to take down various Arsenal blogs and threatened legal action.

He also supports Man United.

Alisher, give up now son, you don’t stand a fucking cat in hells chance of getting your fat sweaty paws on our football club.